My mum is doing a computer course and wants a cheap laptop

[MarsLady]

so... what's out there? Cheap as chips please.

It needs no fancy gizmos. She wants to practise what she's learnt and take it home to Jamaica.

Thank you!

I got mine from this chap here

website not too good but I did the deal over the phone. He's an independent and I got a better deal than from the biggies

Hmm... thanks Pixie. Was hoping for something even cheaper (I know... I know... pissing... wind etc)

ring him and see what he has mars-he has cheaper than that. He sells second hand as well

I've never had any good experiences with secondhand machines. I think I'll [gulp] stick with new.

Some of the mobilc phone co's are doing free laptops when you take out a contract.....tis quite a good deal I think!!

Hmm... worth investigating. Thanks!

Dell's absolute basic model is £300, I think. Really great, because they let you pick'n'mix the extras you want - or leave them off. That won't use. And Dell's are very solid work-horses, too, last forever, which is why offices tend to buy them.

Avoid PC World at all costs. Their customer service is shocking, and they attempt to wriggle out of responsibility for anything they can.

Oops, "That won't use" was meant to be "That way you don't end up paying for a bunch of extras you won't ever use."